Modular device and method for analog electroencephalography synchronization with oscillating electrical light-related events, and motor behaviors

Abstract

This invention relates to a device that is intended to synchronize electroencephalograms (EEGs), recorded by any digital equipment, to physical events (sensorial, visual or auditory stimuli) and behavioral events (motor response, vocal response), in order to allow EEG signal mediation for the purpose of visualizing Evoked Potentials or Event-Related Potentials, which are important research subjects in the neurosciences and clinical investigations into neurological and psychiatric pathologies. This invention allows any digital EEG device to be transformed into equipment that can record Evoked Potentials. This invention also provides a method for analog synchronization of EEGs with oscillating electric light-related events and motor behaviors.

Description

BACKGROUNDFieldINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS[0001]Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.[0002]The device constituting this invention is intended to synchronize electroencephalograms (EEGs), recorded by any digital equipment, with physical events (sensorial, visual or auditory stimuli) and behavioral events (motor response, vocal response), thus allowing EEG signal mediation for the purpose of visualizing Evoked Potentials or Event-Related Potentials, which are important research subjects in the neurosciences and clinical investigations into neurological and psychiatric pathologies. This invention allows any digital EEG device to be transformed into equipment that can record Evoked Potentials. The invention also provides a method for the analog synchronization of EEGs with oscillating elect...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a device that allows for the recording of Evoked Potentials using common digital EEG equipment. This device can record a variety of evoked potentials, including visual, auditory, and cognitive events. It uses real-time processing of events submitted by the subject to the device, resulting in a clear representation of the exact evoked potential wave latencies. This makes it easier to examine the central nervous system and diagnose neurological and psychiatric disorders. The device is simple to use and can work with any digital EEG equipment, eliminating the need for expensive dedicated equipment. It is a safe and low-cost means to examine the central nervous system and can be used in research and medical care settings. The technical effect of this invention is the ability to obtain evoked potentials through the use of low-cost and widely available digital EEG equipment.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the high quality of the tests that they produce, they are systems designed to provide medical care and with few stimulation protocols, hampering the customization of tests.

Consequently, such equipment is of little use for research purposes.

These items of equipment are extremely expensive (they are more costly than the electroencephalogram equipment made by the same manufacturers) and have few channels (average of four).

These systems are feasible only for scientific research, for the following reasons: high complexity of these systems (for their installation, maintenance, operation and programming) which normally require a technician with professional qualifications, found only in laboratories with ample expertise; possibility of synchronization errors resulting from programming mistakes or even computer problems intrinsic to extremely complex operating systems (such as Windows®) that might adversely affect the accurate timing of software-hardware-EEG interactions.

All these variables undermine the feasibility of using this methodology for medical care.

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